“I don’t know where everybody get this thing that I can’t throw in the first place,” Franklin said. “I just run what’s called. I could always throw. It’s just getting my opportunities; that’s really it. I don’t know where it came from or where it started.”

Franklin carried the ball 41 times for 414 yards this fall with more than a third of his runs going for 10 yards or more.

While coaches have appeared reluctant to let Franklin throw the ball at times, the Florida native doesn’t think it’s a confidence issue.

“They see it everyday in practice,” Franklin said of his arm.

Coach Gus Malzahn credited Franklin with giving the Auburn offense a spark in the second half. He was under center for the team’s two longest drives — seven plays, 40 yards; 10 plays 64 yards — of the game in the second half.

“Towards the end of the game we just felt we needed a spark, and John did a good job of that,” Malzahn said. “John moved us down the field a couple times, as he got a first down with his legs on third and 10. He also aired the ball down field to get some pace and tempo going for us.”

Franklin wasn’t looking for any credit after the game.

“As a man you go to look yourself in the mirror, and we just didn’t get the job done on offense,” Franklin said. “That’s point blank, period.”

War Eagle Extra

Jordan D. Hill has covered high schools and athletes in the Bi-City area for the Ledger-Enquirer since January 2017. Prior to coming to Columbus, Hill was a freelancer for The Macon Telegraph and an intern for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. A native of Jasper, Georgia, Hill is a graduate of Pickens High School and the University of Georgia.